Capítulo 43: There's Something Off About My Pokémon. [43]
Could it be… worthless? Lu Cheng worried, feeling a pang of anxiety. The list didn't mention any commemorative balls with this kind of design. The thought that the 100,000 yuan he had hoped for might slip away made his heart ache.
Just then, he noticed that Old Liang's General Store had posted another message, which read:
"Anyone looking to sell Poké Balls, feel free to add me on QQ: XXXXXX."
To be cautious, Lu Cheng decided to add him on QQ and ask about his commemorative ball.
---
Old Liang was a second-hand dealer, also known as a "scalper." His early experience as a trainer had helped him build a vast network of connections, and even after he had to retire due to an injury, he continued thriving by reselling Pokémon items. On Pokémon Market, his three diamond-rated high-reputation accounts were proof of his substantial daily transactions. However, times were getting tougher for independent sellers, and trainers were more inclined to buy from big companies. This forced Old Liang to actively seek out sellers, though wealthier clients were often stingy, preventing him from offering higher prices. Reluctantly, he had to lower his buying prices.
Recently, the trend among wealthy circles was to compare their Pokémon balls. The top of the list was the luxurious ball from the Red Flag Pokémon Ball Factory, with its black-and-gold design seemingly tailor-made for the rich. One of these balls sold for as much as 100,000 yuan. Next on the list were various editions of commemorative balls. In recent years, these commemorative balls had been discontinued, and although there were occasional re-releases, older editions were becoming increasingly rare. Old Liang had caught onto this trend and began to profit from it. Besides commemorative balls, handcrafted Pokémon balls were also in high demand, though these only circulated among a small group of wealthy individuals, beyond Old Liang's usual business.
The past few days, Old Liang's QQ had been buzzing with messages, most of which were either advertisements or pranks, leaving him frustrated. Still, he couldn't afford to slack off, so he diligently went through each message.
"Do you buy luxury balls?"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
"Well, it's stuck to the billboard. Teach me how to pry it off, and I'll sell it to you!"
Old Liang was so angry his face darkened, and he immediately blocked the person.
"Do you buy commemorative balls?"
"Can't you read the chart yourself?!"
Lu Cheng was taken aback by the seller's outburst. Why is this guy so hot-tempered? Still, after some hesitation, Lu Cheng snapped a photo of his commemorative ball and sent it to Old Liang.
"I'm not a scammer; it's just that I can't find this type of commemorative ball on your chart."
Seeing that Lu Cheng had actually sent a picture, Old Liang let out a sigh of relief. Finally, a real transaction.
"Sorry about that, brother. I just dealt with a scammer, so I'm a bit on edge. Let me take a look."
Old Liang assumed that the seller must have overlooked something, since there were only a few types of commemorative balls. But when he looked at the picture, he was stunned.
"Whoa!" Old Liang almost shouted.
"Brother, where did you get this commemorative ball?"
"Just tell me if you're buying it or not. If not, I'll sell it elsewhere,"
Lu Cheng typed, annoyed at Old Liang's prying.
"Yes, yes, I'll buy!"
Old Liang quickly realized his behavior had been out of line and explained,
"Brother, this isn't just any commemorative ball."
"?"
"The rarest commemorative ball we usually recognize is the Red Flag Pokémon Ball Factory's 60th-anniversary gold-trimmed ball. The key feature is the golden pattern around the button. This type of commemorative ball is valued at about the same price as a luxury ball—around 100,000 yuan."
"But aside from those five well-known commemorative balls, Red Flag Pokémon Ball Factory actually released a first edition during its initial public bidding. This ball was exclusively given to VIP guests who participated in the bidding. Only one batch was ever produced, and its defining mark is the small golden stamp on the lower left corner of the ball."
"Can you send me a clearer photo?"
Staring at the commemorative ball in his hand, Lu Cheng was suddenly at a loss for words.
"(Picture) How much can I sell a commemorative ball like this for?"
"200,000!"
Old Liang gulped nervously.
Seeing that there was no response from the other end for a while, Old Liang quickly typed,
"Brother, that's already the fairest price. Let me be honest with you, this thing could easily sell for over 200,000, but the problem is finding a buyer!"
"If you sell it to those big companies, they'll definitely lowball you, and you might not even get 150,000 for it!"
Lu Cheng took a deep breath. The current situation was that this commemorative ball could fetch him 200,000 if sold. The system remained silent. It seemed that the commemorative ball, based on its original design, was indeed the rarest one. Human thinking truly worked differently.
Lu Cheng suddenly asked, "System, what's your opinion?"
Ding—Commemorative balls and other common items can be transferred or sold. The host may handle it as you wish!
Hearing the system's confirmation, Lu Cheng smiled and began negotiating with Old Liang.
"250,000, or I'll sell it to someone else!"
Old Liang was practically jumping with anxiety. His earlier offer of 200,000 had obviously been a lowball attempt. But if he really bought it for 250,000, his profit margin would be minimal.
"Brother, we're both in business. This commemorative ball is right up my alley. Give me a break—how about 220,000?"
Old Liang replied with a pained expression.
"250,000, no bargaining!"
Lu Cheng stood firm.
Old Liang gritted his teeth, his eyes red with frustration. Fine! He'd list it at a higher price in the market; someone would eventually buy it. Besides, someone who could get their hands on such a rare ball probably came from a well-off background—it might be worth it to make a friend.
"Alright, 250,000 it is!"
Old Liang finally agreed.
"Are we meeting in person?"
"No, just give me your address. Let's go through the official Pokémon Market transaction channel."
Lu Cheng didn't want to reveal his identity, so he opted for the safer route.
"Alright, I'll send you the deposit first. What's your bank account number?"
Old Liang acted swiftly. Once they agreed on 250,000, he didn't feel much regret. He immediately transferred 100,000 yuan as a deposit to Lu Cheng and added,
"Brother, if you get your hands on any more rare items, make sure to let me know! Prices are negotiable!"
"If you're free, check out my shop too. My three-diamond rating is no joke!"
Lu Cheng responded with an "OK" emoji, staring at his bank account, which now showed a 100,000 yuan balance. He was a bit dazed. In just one afternoon, the 100,000 yuan he had spent earlier was now back in his account!
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